City Of Malibu: Woolsey Fire 3 Year Anniversary And Annual Day Of Preparedness, Nov. 9

Press release from the City of Malibu:

November 4, 2021

City of Malibu Marks Annual Day of Preparedness and the Three-Year Anniversary of the Devastating Woolsey Fire with Community Emergency Preparedness Tips and Video Commemoration

Three years ago on November 9, 2018, Malibu was devastated by the worst wildfire in the City’s history. The Woolsey Fire destroyed nearly 500 homes in Malibu, took the lives of three people, and left the community traumatized and struggling to recover and rebuild. 

On the three-year anniversary of the Woolsey Fire, the City of Malibu commemorates the catastrophe, and offers support to all the people who lost homes and possessions, were displaced, and are still recovering. The City renews its pledge to never stop working to help the community rebuild and recover, and never stop striving to be better prepared and help the community be more prepared and resilient for wildfires. A video marking the Woolsey Fire anniversary will be posted on the website, Malibu City TV broadcast and social media. 

“The Woolsey Fire will always be a turning point in our lives, and the scars it left behind will ensure we never forget and constantly strive to be more prepared and more resilient as individuals and as a community,” said Mayor Paul Grisanti. “I want every person in Malibu to know that the City Council and City staff are here for you, we support you, we hear you, and we will do everything possible to help you recover and be ready for the inevitable wildfires that we will face. I hope you will join me in taking at least one step right now to be more prepared.”

In response to the Woolsey Fire, the City committed to enhancing community-wide preparedness for future wildfires and declared November 9 as the City of Malibu's Annual Day of Preparedness. This year, the City asks every homeowner, resident, business, employee, student, school and organization in Malibu to take at least one step to be more prepared for wildfires. To encourage and inspire others in the community to join in this effort, please share the preparedness steps you are taking and ideas you have on social media with the hashtag #MalibuPrepared. 

The City offers 10 steps that can be taken for your household, business, school or organization, any one of which can improve wildfire preparedness. 

Since the Woolsey Fire, the City’s wildfire preparedness efforts have expanded to include offering free home wildfire hardening assessments for residents; ramping up efforts to remove homeless encampments that pose a fire threat; creating a Zero Power Plan for disseminating emergency information to the community during widespread power outages; hiring two Fire Safety Liaisons; increasing the number of CERT, first aid and emergency preparedness trainings for residents; starting a grant-funded hazard tree removal program; holding numerous Emergency Operations Center (EOC) trainings for staff and multi-agency wildfire and evacuation scenarios every year; developing a Citywide Mass Evacuation Plan and Community Wildfire Protection Plan; creating a free Malibu-specific emergency survival guide; conducting disaster notification drills several times per year; holding an annual Public Safety Expo and offering numerous emergency preparedness trainings and community briefings as part of National Preparedness Month every year; and many other actions. 

The City continues to offer resources and assistance to homeowners working on their Woolsey Fire rebuild projects. The City’s Environmental Sustainability Director / Building Official, Yolanda Bundy, who leads the City’s rebuild efforts, reports that, as of November 3, 209 building permits to begin rebuilding single-family homes destroyed in the Woolsey Fire have been issued, and a total of 318 have been approved by the Planning Department. To date, 55 single-family home rebuilds have been completed, and 12 multifamily units have been completed. 

Ms. Bundy continues to personally follow up with and assist homeowners along every step of their process. Anyone who needs assistance or information with any aspect of their rebuild is urged to make an appointment for one-on-one help with our Rebuild Team, over the phone or in person. To schedule an appointment, visit the Appointments page or call 310-456-2489. Rebuild Consulting Planner Akash Shah is specifically tasked with making sure that rebuild projects get through the process in a timely and efficient manner, and can be reached at ashah@malibucity.org. 

Many resources, handouts and other information are available on the Rebuild webpage. 

This press release was produced by the City of Malibu. The views expressed here are the author’s own.